From Equestria and Beyond

The Sun had almost set by the time the two landed in front of the resort.

"Made it!" said Dash with a grin. "I'll get us checked in."

Applejack looked around. A vast, open lobby showed some ponies milling about and chatting. Palm trees lined the entrance (Is it even warm enough for 'em to grow here? she thought), and the name of the resort, Seabreeze Sunshine, was plastered on to an enormous sign.

Walking in, she saw a few ponies milling about, but most were further ahead, on the beach, enjoying whatever last rays of sunshine the day would give them. She walked up to Dash just as she finished checking in.

"Here," said Rainbow Dash, handing her a bracelet. "Put this on your hoof."

"What's it for?" she asked as she tied it around her hoof.

"Free food! Duh."

"Ah, pardon me."

"Here, follow me." Dash led Applejack to a room near the edge of the resort. Upon arriving, Applejack shrugged off her saddlebags into a corner, as did Dash.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving!" said Applejack. "Maybe we could grab a bite to eat somewhere?"

"Sure thing!"

"What is that?" Applejack said as Dash put something on her plate. They were in the spacious buffet hall, so close to the ocean they could smell the salt.

"Hey, when in Pone, do as the Ponans," said Dash. "This is traditional pegasus food! You're in the Pegasus Southlands, might as well try some, eh?"

There was nothing Applejack could say as Dash put another generous portion on her plate.

They found a table and got eating. "How is it?" asked Dash.

"Not bad," said Applejack between bites. "You still haven't told me what is yet, though."

"Oh," said Dash. "It's fermented something or another. Like sauerkraut, or something, except it's another vegetable."

"Well, it's real good. Thanks for sharing."

"Heh, well, I mean, you share your cider with me, so it's only fair."

"Any plans for this evening?"

"Get shit-faced drunk. Wanna join me?"

"I don't see why not." A pause for consideration. Then, "Bet you can't outdrink me!"

"I wouldn't be saying something so rash if I were you, AJ!"

"Is that Rainbow Dash backing out from a challenge I see?"

"You're on!"

Hic. "Guess you beat me this time," mumbled Dash, as she saw she was two mugs of cider behind. On their table were several empty mugs of cider.

"Wow, Dash! That was even worse than your last showing!" said Applejack as she sipped at her cider.

"Shaddup, AJ," said Dash. "I" *hic *"I'm gonna beat you next time."

"Sure,"  said AJ. "Just don't die on me, pardner." She let out a blech.

"Wanna go to the club tonight?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know. Clubbin'. Or another kind of club, that's fine too." She winked at Applejack.

"I'm not feelin' it tonight, sugarcube." Or probably ever.

"Mmmmokay, that's cool too." Dash yawned. "Wanna head back to our room?"

"Sounds good."

"Hey Dash?" Applejack asked, as they approached their room. Applejack was supporting Dash's unsteady gait, and she had to admit that she was finding it hard to focus as well.

" 'Sup, AJ?"

"There's only one bed in the room. How're we gonna deal with that?"

"Ah." Dash unfurled her wings. "Just give me a moment." She zoomed off unsteadily before Applejack could stop her.

She was soon back, with a big lump of cloudstuff between her hooves. "Cumulus. Hard to find at night, but the comfiest of all."

Applejack looked at the cloud. "That's stratus, Dash."

Dash looked at it. "Yeah. Whatever. Here, could you open the door?"

Applejack obliged.

"You should shower first, Dash," Applejack said, once Dash had finished making her bed. You're more drunk than I am.

*Hic* "Sure."

As Applejack sat on her bed waiting for her turn in the shower, she sort of, just sort of, regretted not going clubbing that night. Sure, she hated the crowds and the "music", but it seemed like that was where all her friends went to have fun and possibly score someone. Maybe I should throw myself out there some more before I end up a spinster.

Before she could further bury herself in that thought, Dash came out of the shower. "Yer turn," she said as she dripped onto the floor before plopping herself on her cloud bed.

Applejack rolled her eyes as she walked into the shower. "Geez, why are you pegasus types always so wet?" She immediately blushed as Dash let out a snicker. As she let the hot water wash over her body, Applejack relaxed. She quickly washed up and dried off, hoping to get to sleep soon.

When she walked out of the shower, she saw Rainbow Dash still very much awake.

"What's up?" asked Applejack.

"Just thinking about things," replied Rainbow Dash.

"That's strange. You're not normally that type." Applejack walked up to the edge of the bed. "Anything you wanna say, sugarcube?"

"Nothing..." said Dash. She fidgeted around in her bed while Applejack stood patiently by.

"Well... fine..." she started again after a while. "Applejack, you're always so --" *hic* "so understanding and unwavering, and, just awesome in general. Wanna try --" *hic* " -- going out once we get back to Ponyville?"

Applejack hesitated only a moment before saying, "I don't think a try would hurt, would it?"

Rainbow Dash perked up immediately. "Really? You're willing to be my marefriend?"

Applejack chuckled. "Sure, Dash. I'll be your marefriend."

Rainbow leapt out of her bed and hugged Applejack, a gesture which Applejack gladly accepted and returned.

"Rise and shine!" sang Applejack as she shook the still-sleeping pegasus. "It's a new day."

Rainbow Dash groaned. "Not so loud, please," she whispered.

Applejack raised an eyebrow at that. "Lemme get you some water, sugar," she whispered. She went to the faucet to retrieve a cup of water and gave it to Dash.

She drank it quickly, then settled back into her bed. "Just give me ten more minutes, alright? I think I'll be better then."

"Okay, then. I'll reserve some seats by the beach. Come down when you're ready."

"Hey Dash," called Applejack. She was sitting in the relatively quiet dining hall. "Here's some food I got ya." She motioned to a plate full of fruits and a glass of milk. "You feeling alright?"

"Heh. I'm okay." As Dash took some bites from the food, she said, "You know, I normally don't eat breakfast."

"Huh, really? Knowing you, it shouldn't surprise me."

Dash finished her food in record time. "Come on, let's soak up some rays and catch some waves."

"Hey girl," said Dash. "You're looking pretty hot tonight." The two were sitting at a fairly crowded bar, the conversation around them far overpowering the music, and Dash was directing her attention at the mare sitting beside her.

"Rainbow Dash! What in tarnation are you thinking?!" asked Applejack.

"Just trying to net us a cute mare for tonight," said Dash with a grin.

"We need to talk. Outside. Now."

"Sorry!" Dash said to the subject of her ministrations as she was dragged off by an apoplectic Applejack.

"What makes you think I'm that kind of mare?" asked Applejack.

"I... you're not?"

"No! And I would thank you to refrain from implying that I am."

"I'm sorry..."

"Heck, we haven't even done anything yet, and you're already fixin' t'chase two tails at once?"

"A mare can always dream, right?"

"Well, let's keep those dreams dreams, okay?" Applejack's voice softened a bit. She knew that Dash meant no harm, and that she would never attempt something like this again. "Anyway, I think we'd best head back to our room now. Is that okay?"

"Yeah..." Dash dipped her head in deference. "I'm sorry."

Applejack nuzzled her. "I forgive you."

They spent the rest of the evening quietly making conversation. When the time came to go to sleep, they kissed each other good-night.

"Did you feel that?" asked Applejack. She was relaxing on her beach chair when she felt a little tremor.

"Yeah, I -- whoa!" The whole ground was shaking, and nowhere was that more evident than in the pools in front of them, where water sloshed up and down and left and right. The soda she was sipping on on the table fell off.

Just as quickly as it began, it was over. Nobody appeared to be hurt. But then several pegasi yelled, "Get to higher ground!"

Applejack glanced at Dash, but she was already zipping to their room. Applejack galloped after her. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"They think there might be a tsunami coming in a bit," said one stallion galloping past her. Applejack's eyes widened in comprehension, and she stayed rooted in place, until Dash flew out with their saddlebags.

"Hurry!" she said. "We need to move as far as we can."

When they reached the Seabreeze town square, huddled with a mass of other ponies, they waited, in each other's hooves, uncertain of the rest of their vacation.

"What do we do if the tsunami destroys the place?" asked Dash.

"I dunno... do you think that's likely?"

"Nah," said Dash. "But just in case?"

"Hmm, maybe we should just wait and see."

"Okay, then."

The wave broke two hours later. Many ponies were about to give up on waiting, judging there to be no tsunami after all, but the resulting wave, several meters tall, crashed violently into the resort. And while they could conceivably fix the place, the water damage was too severe for anyone to stay in the near future.

"Well, then," said Dash. "What are we gonna do?"

"How about... how about we take a road trip back?" asked Applejack.

"A road trip?" asked Dash.

"Yeah! Like walking back to Ponyville. How does that sound?"

"I... Hmm."

"Well, I don't know how else we're gonna spend our vacation, sugar."

"In that case, then, sure!" Dash flapped her wings a couple of times. "How could I say no to a road trip with my marefriend? You get whatever you think you'll need, and I'll go look for a road map. Meet me back here in an hour?"

"Sure thing, sugarcube."

We travel the road of generations,

Joined by a common bond;

We sing our song 'cross the pony nation,

From Equestria and beyond.

We're Apples forever, Apples together:

We're family, but so much more.

No matter what comes, we will face the weather:

We're Apples to the core